Makulafamy

Hi Melissa...I think we waited like 1 week! It would depend on the position...but you will know what your tummy can handle!:mad2: I posted a post called if you are new and you know it clap your hands...(or something like that) here under introductions last week...and it was full of things I would have liked to know before I started! Welcome to your journey girl!

Holy liquid Diet! I have heard of people being on Clear liquids for 2 weeks, but never three and clear liquids usually include SF popsicles, Jello, broth, etc. Are you sure that you can't have any of those? Someone on here misunderstood her docs instructions and did liquids for like 6 weeks until her first visit! Depending on your relationship with your doc, maybe you could call and see if you could move on to jello, popsicles, and broth. Broth is just as much of a liquid water. Broth made me feel at least I was getting something that tasted like food. And popsicles let me chew on something...so that was nice. I called my doc after about a week to see if i could move on to full liquids like cream Soups bc I was getting light headed, etc from all the liquids. Just try to remember you dont want to damage your band by risking a solid food that could get stuck. I don't have much help for you bc it totally sucks! It will be worth it though! See if you can add some "foods"...with your doc's approval. My doc swears that the Protein shakes are supposed to curb the hunger...I used to wonder if he had ever HAD one! --Amy

Ooh, that would be super exciting to be asked to speak. We do have a support group here, I have never went. I find such good support here and through the blogs. I should probably go though bc I hear that a lot more gastric RNY patients go....

That's right! And then YOU will be giving advice! As for the gas, I took 2 gax x strips 3 times a day for a week at least! They seemed to really help.

You are welcome. The liquid phase does suck, because it is like every food commericial in the world in on TV...tempting you! But, you usually get some kickass weight loss from that time! Its gets you going and starts your pre-op on a high note!

I started walking my first day home. I just walked a block or two...really to help with the gas. I started walking the mile about 8-10 days later. I will tell you that I used to wear Nike Shox, but found out they are horrible for walking because they raise your heal. I went and bought real nike walking shoes and it makes such a difference. Dont be afraid of being hungry! It was kind of fun at first bc I hadnt felt real hunger in forever! I just wish I had known it was going to be up to me to eat good those first 3-4 weeks after surgery. From all the nutrition classes I attended pre-surg, they made it sound like the minute after surgery how and what I ate would change. But that's not the case.

Welcome all newly banded, soon to be banded, or bandsters new to the site. I was thinking this morning, now that I am a little over 3 months out, I could share some information with those of you just beginning your journey. Some of this is kinda common sense, and some of it is info I wish I had understood better before the band. 1. before get very far into your journey, take some measurements. I forgot to do this and now I wish I had my beginning measurements. This is good, bc sometimes when the scale is not moving...you are still losing inches! SO MEASURE YOURSELF! 2. Take some before pictures. I take pictures all the time, but I know some people hate the way they look presurg. But you will wish you had some before pictures after you start losing :thumbsup: It's only going to get better afterall! 3. This is really important. And I didnt have a clear grasp on it before surgery. After surgery, and after you heal...you will still be hungry. AND most likely, you will still be able to eat whatever whenever you want. The period after banding and before you first fill is referred to as BANDSTER HELL. It's hell because you have to rely on willpower. What's that you say? I know I know...if we were good at "dieting" then we wouldnt need the band. But for a few weeks at least, prepare yourself to practice restraint. Just bc you can eat it...don't. 4. Know that after surgery, and when you start to eat mushies and real food. Your weight loss will probably stop for a week or so. Your body is going from a really low calorie liquid diet to actual food. It needs time to adjust. So dont get discouraged or give up. Hold on, watch what you eat...and more importantly...start moving. 5. Which brings me to this one. Exercise. It doesnt have to be anything huge! I started walking and I HATE walking. But I set a goal for myself. I wanted to do a 5k. I started walking 1 mile. The next week I added 1/2 a mile and so on. In March, 2 months after my surgery I did my first 5k. Is was a nonscale victory (NSV). Exercising will help your scale start moving again, and even when it appears you arent dropping pounds, you are changing the shape of your body. 6. Start a blog. It's pretty easy. Blogger is one great one. The link to my blog is in my signature. If you go check it out, you will see all of the other ladies that blog. Blogging or reading blogs lets you get to know fellow bandsters on a more personal level and see progress and share experiences. 7. When you go to your doctor ASK QUESTIONS! That's what they are there for...and that's what we (or our insurance) is paying them for. 8. Realize that all doctors are different. You will learn that really quickly on this site. We all have different instructions. 9. Dont be afraid to call and ask your doc if you can change something, move to the next phase sooner..etc. All they can do is tell you know. 10. FILLS! Most of us dont feel any restriction after our first fill. I didnt feel anything until my 3rd fill. My doc is pretty aggressive with fills, if that's what his patients want. I had 4ccs my first fill. I called back bc it didnt do anything for me and went in 2 weeks later for my second fill. He gave me 1.5cc's. Still didnt feel much so I called and went back in one week later and got .5cc's. That has held me for over a month now. And finally. 11. Love yourself! Dont be ashamed of the band. It is a TOOL. You DO have to work at it. You CAN cheat it. IT IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT! Be proud of who you are and who you are becoming! Hope some of this helps! --Amy

When I went through my psych eval the doc and i talked about this. She wanted me to know that the divorce rate is significantly higher for WLS patients. Clearly, several things can happen. Either the person loses weight and realizes they have been settling for a person or lifestyle just bc they are fat...and they want something more... or... the WLS patients partner cannot handle the added attention the patient is now getting...and this leads to fights, and so on. I work at a hospital facility where loads of people are having surgery...bc our insurance covers it 100%. I have seen my divorced coworker go from a homebody to a drinking "sexual" person (saying it nice). She has replaced one addiction when several unhealthy ones. the point of all my blabbering is yes...it can change a person. It is life changing surgery. But, it doesnt have to change a person. I, like you, have always thought pretty highly of myself, considered myself kinda sexy at times :thumbup: etc. My boyfriend and I talked pretty openly about his fear that I may "get hotter" and leave him. I explained that I am with him bc I love him...(I will spare you all the details). But, I just try to let him know that I am not with him bc I am fat...hahah...that doesnt even really make sense. So just talk to him. Reassure him. Put it in perspective for him. Ask him "would you leave me if you were fat and lost weight"? His answer will be no. And then you can say..."then why would I leave you"? Just some thoughts! Good luck with everything! Amy

If someone asks me how I am loosing weight I tell them about the band. There is nothing to hide, or be ashamed of...at least not for me. Its a decision for my health. And so far it has been a great decision. I dont walk into the Friday staff meeting and say "IVE BEEN BANDED", but I would never lie to someone if they asked me. First of all, for me...lying always comes back and bites me in the ass. I also think its my duty to be proud of my choice, show others it's okay, and maybe inspire others to look into the possibility of the band. Me being banded doesnt make me any less professional, or negate my work in way. Of course, I a pretty much an open book...ask and I will probably tell...not just about the band. :thumbup:

hahaha...i remember when you shared that! That was so funny. Thanks for updating!

This statistic has always been a hang up for me. I started my journey at 327. If i "should" weigh (for my height) 145, that would mean 50% weight loss would be 91 pounds down for me. Oh...I am not stopping at 91 pounds! I like to think that hard work and determination, learning new ways of eating, using your band as a tool, exercising, etc...will take me beyone 50% of my excess weight. Remember that number is just an average. Some people lose lots more, some people lose less. It will be interesting to see what other people have to say. --amy

I would want to kick the sh&@ out of my scale! But you hardly have anything in your band right now...I would probably want to kick the sh%$ out of my doctor too. I kept calling my doc and going back in until I got my 3rd fill and restriction. I was seeing him almost every week He loves me I am sure. Right now its basically up to you...(I wish I would have known that I would have to rely on willpower for this portion of the program). Just keep doing everything right, watching what you eat, moving...and get your fills...it will happen.

If you just got your fill 3 hours ago, I am guessing you havent eaten? I dont know what your docs orders are, but I am supposed to be on liquids for 48 hours after and then move to mushies. Maybe you docs orders are different. Give it a week or so of regular solid foods before you go back in for a fill. You wont be able to tell if you have restriction while on liquids or mushies. I had 4ccs my first fill...no restriction. 1.5ccs my second fill (I called and got in two weeks after my first), and I felt a little something but not much, so i called again and got in 1 week later and he gave me .5ccs and I have restriction . That was almost 5 weeks ago and I had to call and move this weeks fill back 2 weeks bc i am still pretty restricted. Hope that helps. You will get there. Hang on through Bandster hell.

I read this thread and I dont think anyone else has asked (if you answered this already sorry :thumbup: But why do you only have 2.5ccs in your band? I am 3 months out and getting ready to go back for my 4th fill. You for sure dont have restriction right now, so you are just relying on will power. My doc covered everything for 90 days, so you can bet after my first fill and I didnt get restriction, I called and got another appt. I went in for 3 fills in about 4 weeks. It was free and my doctor agreed that I didnt have restriction. I will be interested to hear what your doc says. Dont be too down yet. Your band just isnt living up to its full potential yet bc it not very full! Amy

There are TONS on the web. You can use Daily Plate, among many others. These sites will track all of your food nutrients and will do your exercising too.

Blair-here is the deal-e-o. If there is one thing my doc and his staff did not do a good job with, that was informing me that until I reach restriction...basically we are on our own. I thought that after I was banded, I would feel different when I ate or drank. It took me 3 fills before I could feel anything. I am currently at 6.5ccs in a 10-12cc band. You are totally in bandster hell right now, and yes...its basically up to you and your willpower to hang on until the band starts doing its job. You should fill pretty topped off after about a cup of food. For example, I can ALMOST finish a chicken breast. But once I start to feel my band, if I push it and try to finish the whole thing...its going to come back up. Just keep talking to your doc about how much and what you can eat. I called my doc every week to get in for a fill until I actually felt something. Thats what I (and my insurance) are paying him for! LOL. Also, I feel the same pressure with trying to prove to people the band was worth it. I feel that they think it should be falling off me as well...but most people dont know the difference between this and RnY...and they dont know that we still have to work at it. So, dont give too much thought to that. My doctor made me chant "1-2 pounds a week" last time i was there bc I was bummed I hadnt lost more! Eventually we will look back on this and say damn...I cant believe I've lost this much weight!

he could be a good source of Protein...do you have a grill? lol...kidding. Dont eat Fido. Not enough protein. This too shall pass! Soon you will be months post-op and pounds and pounds lighter.

Sometimes mine says that. Look for blank white space before or after the lines you are trying to add. Like at the end of your last sentence, hit the delete key to see if you have hit enter. I dont know if that makes sense. In otherwords, it may look like you dont have anything there, but you may have hit return, or have "html code" that is messing you up.

LOL...you know "old" people have thin friends and go out and want to drink too! I am getting ready to turn 20-10 (aka 30) in Sept. But you can still drink. Just not things like beer. Anything that is bubbly and has carbonation has a potential to stretch your stomach back out....and if you are going to do that...what's the point of going through all this. I am 3 months post op next week. I had a martini last week. So pick a cocktail. I tend to drink even less now though, bc I dont want to drink my calories. I would rather eat them and get some sort of nutrition from them....so if I go out with people who are drinking and getting drunk...I think which is more important to me? Drinking or losing weight? I choose the second option, drink one cocktail and then stick to Water. Once you progress past mushies, you will find plenty of options to keep others from wondering whats up. Most restraunts have Soups, and if not...maybe a bean dip or artichoke dip? If I am going somewhere where I think food might be an issue, I try to see if I can find a menu for the place and scope it out before I go out in a group. Hope some of that helps! You are doing great! Keep it up--Amy

I felt the same way about 5-7 days after surgery. I was supposed to be on liquids for 2 weeks, but I called my doc and he told me I could slowly try full liquids and mushies and I was instantly better. I believe a couple of things are happening (but I am only a doctor in my mind). Bloodsugar and for me...not enough calories! I was only taking in about 350 calories a day...and we need more than that to have energy. I was aloud to have juice right after surgery. They tell you just to avoid the ones that are real acidic (so like oj, until you know your body can handle those). My suggestion is to call your doc and see what they think. --Amy

I was totally going to say 7 layer bean dip. Refried Beans, sour cream, gauco, salsa, black olives, chives, and shredded cheese. I made this for a party when I was post-op about 3 weeks. Its simple and yummy! Take a bag of Fritos for those who can eat them.

Welcome to bandland! Pretty soon you will be an official bandster. I am from Pensacola...so NW Florida. Its pretty good that for your pre-op diet you get to have food! I had 2 weeks of just liquids (as did lots of people on here). You will start to crave for every food commericial on TV...and during this phase of pre-op and even a little post-op, it will seem like there are a million of them For me, the pre-surg diet was not the hardest part of my journey. It's tough, but the weight loss that comes with it is a nice perk. After your surgery and after you have healed...the time before you get your first fill (or your second or third) was the hardest time for me. This is called bandster hell, and I was not prepared for it. So I wanted to give you a heads up (not to scare you but so you dont get disappointed). Most of us go through a period after surgery where we can still eat anything we want...bc we dont have proper restriction yet. During this time you have to rely on willpower and your memory (meaning why you did this in the first place). After you start to get your fills and your band starts working with you...things get much better. Walk walk walk! Even the night after your surgery. Walking will help with gas and blood clots. Then, start walking to help you keep losing. I started in Jan when I was banded and did my first 5k several weeks ago. I was 327 pounds when I started...so if I can do it, anyone can! Keep in mind the band is a tool for us. Not the "miracle cure". Be open with your doctor afterwards. Call if you have questions, get in to see him/her. My doc has been great! This forum and all the people on here will be wonderful as well. I have a blog, as do lots of other bandsters, and I have "met" some wonderful people this way. Usually you can find the link for the blogs in peoples signatures on their posts. Holler if you need anything. Again...WELCOME! I dont regret a minute of this journey! Amy

I am at a pretty good restriction. I think I could use just a tad more...but... Here is a great example. Last night for dinner I had about 1/2 a cup of pork sirloin and 3/4 mashed potatoes. I was not hungry after I ate that. Like everyone else says, you dont get that "oh my gosh I am so full I am going to burst" feeling anymore, but once I have eaten the right amount with my restriction I am satisfied and not hungry. I am still physically hungry after Breakfast and lunch, but that's just bc I choose to eat small amounts to keep losing until I find my sweet spot. To answer the other question about when do you know to stop? Well, the other night I had this wonderful chicken breast with ham, cheese, and tomatoe on top. About halfway through my chicken I could feel my body telling me to give it a few minutes. I ignored. Then, with about 1/4 of the chicken breast left, I could feel that my pouch was full...there was a slight feeling of being uncomfy...not really a pain, but a pressure. I again just wanted to finish my chicken (must clean plate when meal is yummy mentality), so I forced it down. 5 minutes later my body forced it back up. Lesson learned.

Sure, PBing is productive burp. Its different than throwing up. For me, if I eat too fast or something get stuck...it take about 5 minutes before I PB. Its almost like your slobber cant go down, and it starts filling up your throat until you "produce" it back up...usually in a slimy foamy form thats really stretchy! Gross huh? Up towards the top of the screen is a link to the FAQ's. There is a dictionary of terms you will read on here. That helped me when I was first starting! I asked my doc if he had a theory about people saying they are tighter in the morning. He says he hears that a lot but does not have a medical explanation. Hope that helps.. Amy

hahhaahaha....thats a good one! :sneaky: